BlueDriver vs FIXD: Which Bluetooth Scanner Should You Buy?
Both plug in and talk to your phone, but BlueDriver reads ABS and airbag codes with no subscription, while FIXD is cheaper up front and pushes a yearly Premium plan. Here's how to choose.
| Spec | BlueDriver Pro Next-Gen | FIXD Sensor (Gen II) |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $100–$200 | Under $50 |
| Type | Dongle + phone app | Dongle + phone app |
| Connection | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Systems | Engine + ABS + SRS | Engine only |
| Active tests | No | No |
| Live data | Advanced (graphing / logging) | Basic |
| Updates | Free lifetime updates | Free basics, paid features |
| Service functions | None (no oil, EPB, SAS or battery resets); smog-check readiness, Mode 6, freeze frame, repair reports | None (maintenance reminders only) |
| Works with | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Best for | Beginners | Beginners |
The short answer
- Get the BlueDriver if you want to diagnose more than the check engine light – it reads ABS and airbag codes on major makes, graphs live data, and never charges a subscription.
- Get FIXD if you only want to know why the check engine light is on, in plain English, for the lowest up-front cost – and you’re happy to skip (or pay for) Premium.
What’s the same
Both are small Bluetooth sensors that stay in the OBD2 port and send results to an app on your phone (iPhone or Android). Both read and clear check-engine codes, explain them in plain English, and work on 1996-and-newer cars. Neither runs active tests or service resets.
Where they differ
What they can read. This is the big one. FIXD reads engine codes only – FIXD itself says it doesn’t read ABS, airbag, transmission or TPMS codes. The BlueDriver reads engine codes plus ABS, airbag, transmission and TPMS codes on its listed major makes. If an ABS or airbag light is what sent you shopping, FIXD can’t help.
Live data. The BlueDriver shows and graphs a wide range of live sensor readings, plus freeze frame, smog-check readiness and Mode 6 test results. FIXD’s live data is basic.
Ongoing cost. The BlueDriver’s maker promises “no subscriptions, no add-ons” – everything in the app is included. FIXD’s free app reads, explains and clears check-engine codes; FIXD Premium (about $99.99 a year) adds extras like a mechanic hotline and issue forecasts.
Three-year cost
| Up front | Over three years | |
|---|---|---|
| BlueDriver | About $95–$120 | Same – nothing more to pay |
| FIXD, free app only | About $20–$60 | Same |
| FIXD with Premium | About $20–$60 | Roughly $320–$360 |
Prices change often – use each tool’s Check Price button for today’s price. See Scanner Subscriptions and Update Fees for every tool we cover.
Our pick
For most people the BlueDriver is the better buy: it costs more on day one, but reads the ABS and airbag systems a cheap reader can’t, and it never costs more after that. FIXD makes sense as a low-cost check-engine-light explainer, or a gift for someone who’ll never look under the hood – just skip Premium unless you’ll use the extras.